Ted Berg, of SNY.tv, talks to Harold Reynolds, of MLB.com and SNY, regarding the one thing that the Yankees need to do to stay in the race in for a post-season berth. Here’s the video:

The Yankees starting pitching before the All-Star break allowed batters to hit .281/.340/.417 against them. And, since the All-Star break, batters are hitting .276/.331/.412 against Yankees starting pitching. So, the starters have been consistent – at the least. (As far as the Yankees bullpen, the numbers are: .229/.306/.366 allowed before the break compared to .241/.335/.398 after the break.)

But, to Reynolds’ point, you don’t know what’s going to happen with Mussina over the next two months. And, losing Chamberlain hurts – and then some.

Can Hughes and Kennedy…or…gulp…Pavano come to the rescue? Or, are the Yankees now at the mercy of the waiver wire?

Hey, is that Hank Stein down in Tampa, walking around, and muttering “A Santana. A Santana. My kingdom for a Johan Santana!”?

Johnny Damon makes an excellent point. The Yankees offense does need to start showing up earlier in these games – and allowing the Yankees pitchers to have some room to work. Otherwise, the whole nut falls on New York’s pitchers to win the game – with little margin for error. And, that doesn’t work for guys like Ponson and Rasner…and sometimes Mussina.

And, with the way the Yankees rotation is set-up now…with Ponson, Mussina and Rasner all lined-up in a row…the potential for more three-game losing streaks is there…unless the bats start scoring more runs during the first five innings of a game.

Sweeny Murti wraps up the All-Star game, from a Yankees perspective, early this morning – along with some reaction from A-Rod, Mo and Jeter. The video via SNY.tv:

Speaking of A-Rod and Jeter. I’ve heard that Alex Rodriguez left the ballpark before the end of the game – whereas Derek Jeter stayed on the bench, rooting and signing autographs, until the winning run was scored in the fifteen inning.

Would it have killed Alex to follow Derek’s lead on this one? Leaving early sort of implies that A-Rod feels he’s bigger than the game, no?

Did you know that there have only been seven players to get a hit, as a Yankee, during an All-Star game at Yankee Stadium? Here’s the list: Willie Randolph and Reggie Jackson (1977); Bill Skowron and Mickey Mantle (1960); Red Rolfe, George Selkirk and Joe DiMaggio (1939).

There’s never been a Yankee to get two hits in an All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. It would not shock me to see Derek Jeter to become the first to do it this evening.

Today, Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog and I sat down with SNY’s Chris Cotter to discuss both Yankees and Mets fans perspectives on their favorite teams at this point in the season – as we head into another chapter of the Subway Series. Here’s the video:

Ted Berg, of SNY.tv, talks to Jonathan Mayo, of MLB.com, regarding the Yankees and the draft this week. Here’s the video:

Gerrit Cole? Baseball America has him ranked as the 17th best prospect in the draft. He may not be around when they Yankees get to make their first pick. Besides, we’re still waiting for the last Yankees “first-round RHP from a California High School” pick to reach his “potential,” aren’t we?

For me, when it comes to the first round, take the best bat available in terms of batting eye combined with production or the best college starting pitcher in terms of stuff and command. Those are the ones more likely to give you something down the line.